Warbird Information Exchange

While I know most of this venue is geared toward WW2, thought I would share a couple of photos of my replica Camel project. The objective here is to safely re-create the WW1 flying experience in a reasonable cost aircraft compatable with modern flying concerns. While all original full size dimensions and requirements (e.g. flying wires) are followed, modern safety items like a steel tube fuselage is used. That said, the project has many original instruments and parts from original Camels, including an original Aldis gunsight, flight instruments andan original Camel data plate. Many replica items such as a wicker seat, stick grip, throttle quadrant, etc, are taken from original drawings/photos/plans. A small Rotec 150 hp radial engine supplants the original 130 hp Clerget rotary for reliability and XC capability.
Now finishing covering - hope to fly in the Spring and see everyone at OSH. The plane will be done as a 208 Sqn B flight plane, D1845, "C".

Nice! Sort of an aviation restomod, all the eyewash plus lots of safety

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

I hadn't thought of that adjective, but that does accurately sum it up.

Since I'm the one flying with my rudimentary aviation skills, the safety was a big deal.
It is also easily dissasembeled in a couple of hours for trailering, and can be assembled in a couple of hours.

Ahhh! The project finally comes to WIX! Hurrah!
What ya'll don't know is that I've been hearing about this project at occasional lunches meet-ups for a while now and I've been pestering the poor guy to show some pics! I think we need some more WWI stuff here.
In fairness, there is another forum that some of you WWIIites should check out called the Aerodrome. It's all about warbirds from WWI and Russ has almost, just almost given me the bug (I still like the L-types best) after looking at some of the projects there including this one.
Oh, and assuming all goes well, you can expect to see more pictures of this bird once Russ gets it flying! We'll be sure that happens!

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Thanks Ryan!

Just to help out folks like me with impaired imaginations, here's a primitive Microsoft paint modification overlaying the covering on a photo to give you an idea of the target product 208 Sqn plane:


Ours will have a tailwheel for hard surface runways. The metal and wood paneling will be the same, as well as the 28x3 smooth tire. The overall color will be a bit more accurate than on this plane (it's too green for proper PC-10), with linen colored undersides as original. I'm using Poly-Tone for you fabric folks, with primary colors being Oak Green for PC-10 and Sun Valley Ivory for the linen. The wood will be similar to the photo as also the insignia.

Great looking project snj5

I look forward to seeing your progress.

Ryan, I agree we could use a bit more WW1 type birds here.

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Share your story: Rutgers Oral History Archive http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/

That is beautiful, Russ. Where are you building it???? Not the super secret bunker which is no longer???? The change to the bunker caused me to move to DFW area Will miss seeing the Camel in person....but maybe someday. You're doing a great job from what I can see.

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The plane is being built at the Airdrome Aeroplanes shop in Missouri. I go up there a week at a time about every month.
They are great folks.

www.airdromeaeroplanes.com

One of the fun things is doing things in groups. Blake Thomas, a retired F-15 sqn commander , has an Airdrome full scale Nieuport 28 down the road in Katy, and am looking forward to some formation. There is also a full size Sopwith Pup and another Nieuport nearing completion in Houston, so we may have quite a group.
Here's Blake flying the Nieuport, which was featured in a recent edition of 'Classic Wings' magazine:



We do need some wiley Huns in Triplanes and D-7s to complete the set though... anyone in Texas interested? These things are -fun, not very expensive and very frugal to run...

Starting to look like a Camel.
Will hang the wings and schedule the FAA inspection.

WooHoo! Don't forget you're T-28 here in town, though! Wish I could fly that Stearman that just moved in next to your bird...

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

I wish the ALS would go for an example of one of the first the WW1 artillery spotters: a Caudron G3, Be 2 or even a Bleriot replica using tube and gusset. We could build it in about 3 months.

That would likely take quite the persuasive powers. We don't have as many younger guys out there as I feel we'd need to accomplish it.

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Perhaps if we reminded them that these can be flown under LSA rules and don't require a medical....

In the attached video, the guy with the white hair doning his cap while sitting in his SE5... that's my LSA aviation plan!!
http://exposureroom.com/members/alister ... 348efc964/